BACKING FOR ROADSIDE LITTER CAMPAIGN
Published date : 07 Dec 2016
Mid Fife and Glenrothes MSP Jenny Gilruth has given her backing to environmental charity Keep Scotland Beautiful and the national campaign to clean up Scotland’s roadsides.
With 88% of Scottish adults agreeing that roadside litter creates a negative impression of Scotland, the campaign aims to tackle the behaviour which is ruining the view for visitors and domestic road users alike.
Recent litter monitoring by the charity has revealed that over 96% of Scotland’s main roads and iconic routes are affected by litter. In addition, during 2016, 52% of Scottish adults have seen someone throw litter from a vehicle and not pick it up.
The campaign is urging road users to take personal responsibility for their litter, encouraging them to give their litter a lift, and take it home.
Ms Gilruth recently met with campaigners to show her support for the initiative and to congratulate them on their hard work.
Derek Robertson, Chief Executive of Keep Scotland Beautiful, said: “As a direct response to our country’s roadside litter problem, we have launched this campaign with a wide range of stakeholders including industry, the public sector and charities, and we are very grateful for Jenny’s support.
“We recognise that to tackle this disgusting and illegal habit, we all need to work in partnership, to raise awareness of the problem of throwing litter from a vehicle, and to trial innovative solutions to change current littering behaviours. “The message is simple – give your litter a lift, take it home!”
Malcolm Roughead, Chief Executive of VisitScotland added: “VisitScotland aims to make Scotland a sustainable destination through promoting environmental accreditation and practices to all tourism businesses.
“We welcome the launch of Keep Scotland Beautiful’s new campaign to cut down the amount of litter on our roadsides and to help ensure that this country remains a hugely attractive destination to visitors from all over the world.”
Local Reporters, COMMUNITY
